Dave Jones has launched a staunch defence of his managerial record and urged his Sheffield Wednesday bosses for more time in his current job...

Dave Jones has launched a staunch defence of his managerial record and urged his Sheffield Wednesday bosses for more time in his current job... so he can wreck Cardiff City’s 100% winning streak at home.

The former City boss is due to tangle with his old club on Sunday for the first time since he was dismissed from his post by the Malaysians for failing to get the big-spending Bluebirds over the promotion line two seasons ago.

But Jones, who departed South Wales with many Bluebirds fans having called for him to go, returns here against a backdrop of boos ringing in his ears from Owls fans.

Sheffield supporters turned against Jones after his team lost for the fifth game in a row when they were battered 4-1 by Watford at Hillsborough.

Under Jones, Wednesday have won just twice in 17 league and cup matches... leaving him under severe pressure.

But Jones, who was not shy of responding to his critics in Cardiff, again went on the defensive in Yorkshire as he prepares his side for the weekend clash with Malky Mackay’s men.

He claimed not even Jose Mourinho could necessarily do the Owls job better and sneered that those demanding change would merely suggest ‘ridiculous’ alternatives such as Italy’s 2006 World Cup winning manager Marcello Lippi.

Asked if it was time for him to go, Jones replied: “Why? They were not saying that three months ago, so why today? I’ve not become a bad manager overnight.

“We always seem to be in a situation where people think getting rid of somebody is the answer.

“I’m not fearful of my job. I’m good at what I do. People say change the manager, but what are you going to do – get someone else in and then get rid of him, too, and then get rid of the next one?

“Look at my record. Look at my win ratio, which is 59%. Look at what I’ve done with other teams. Suddenly because I’ve hit a bad patch, I’m a bad manager. No, I’m not a bad manager.

“I’ve been successful at what I’ve done. I got this club promoted.

“Go and get Mourinho in and see if that makes a difference? He’s still working with these players, he still needs to get the best out of them.

“We are in a sport where everyone thinks ‘make a change’. One Premier League club has just done that and the fans don’t like it. They’ve had the banners out.

“That’s the business I’m in, but you can’t just turn on people and say that’s the answer. Then turn to them and ask who they want instead and they say Lippi, or someone like that. It’s ridiculous.

“People are going to say ‘change the manager’, but I’ve seen it before. It’s not the answer.

“You don’t lose sight of the good things you’ve been doing and suddenly everything is bad. You need stability.”

Rounding on his players, who come to Cardiff with their confidence drained after the limp showing against Watford, Jones rapped: “I’ve not told the players not to pass the ball, not to get crosses in, not to pick people up defensively.

“It seems to be blame the manager, blame the coaches... and then the players get away with it. But they are the ones who are out there.

“I will take the flak if it helps them be better. I won’t shirk that. But hang on. Let’s get responsibility here.

“I will come out fighting and I will want to see that from my players. I will protect them so they don’t get their egos hurt. I’m the one making the mistakes, not them.

“I will stand by them, take responsibility. But they have a responsibility to stand by the club too.

“What we saw in the second half against Watford was an absolute shambles from us. We let them score from three set-plays.

“Then too many of ours hid a little bit and the crowd started to turn. That’s when you have to be big and bold and get on with it.”

Sheffield Wednesday chairman Milan Mandaric insists he is confident Jones can turn around the club’s fortunes as they seek to get out of the relegation mire.

“Like everyone connected with Sheffield Wednesday, I am disappointed with the current position of the team in the Championship table,” said Mandaric.

“But the key word here is team, because that is what we are, from the top of the club to the bottom.

“We are working tirelessly to put things right and it has never been more important to demonstrate that than at times like this.

“We celebrated together the joyous occasion of promotion last May, next we have to support and help each other when we find ourselves in times of difficulty.

“The Championship is one of the strongest divisions in the whole of Europe.

“I firmly believe we have a good manager in Dave Jones. He and his staff have a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience to take us up the table.

“Of course, nobody enjoys what we are currently going through but we must have a constructive, positive attitude because that is the only way we will successfully negotiate these difficulties.

“Nobody expected us to be where we are in the table because we invested and recruited a lot of players over the summer, but sometimes it takes time for the pieces of the puzzle to slot together.

“We are in a war, make no mistake about that, but what I have always learned is that when a comrade goes down, you put him over your shoulder and lead him back into battle.”

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